Robert Hughes trial: Hey Dad! star denies sexually assaulting girls

After weeks of hearings Robert Hughes today took the witness stand for the first time in his trial.

AAP: Jane Dempster

Actor Robert Hughes has taken the stand at his trial in Sydney and denied all allegations that he sexually assaulted young girls.

Hughes was the star of the Australian sitcom Hey Dad! which aired between 1987 and 1994.

He has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges relating to the alleged indecent and sexual assault of five girls who were aged between seven and 15 at the time.

The offences allegedly occured between 1985 and 1990.

Today, on the 19th day of the trial in Sydney, Hughes has taken the stand for the first time after being called by his defence team.

The court has previously heard of sleepovers in Hughes's Sydney home where he walked naked into a bedroom where young girls slept.

Some of the alleged victims said Hughes wore a sarong with nothing underneath and would expose himself to the girls.

Hughes denied this but told the court he did sleep naked and would get up to use the bathroom at night.

The 65-year-old said he always went straight back to bed.

"No, I did not," Hughes said when asked if he had inappropriately touched a girl during one of the sleepovers.

The now retired actor also denied being confronted about the allegations by a family friend.

"That never happened," he told the court.

Hughes told the court that girls did get changed in his dressing room on the Hey Day! set, but said that a director made the decision and that he was never present at the time.

He also acknowledged that he would often stand around the show's set in his underpants, but told the court that is normal for a television show.

Hughes's barrister, Greg Walsh, questioned his client about evidence presented regarding a trip to a water park at Manly.

"There has also been evidence that at that water park you were swimming in circumstances where your penis was out of your swimming costume and you asked the girls to swim under your legs. Did that occur?" Mr Walsh asked.

"No," Hughes replied.

"And that on one occasion you closed your legs on the person underneath, causing her to struggle under the water. Did that occur?" Mr Walsh asked.

"No," Hughes responded.

Hughes was asked about evidence that described him as having hairy wrists and arms.

"Do you have hairy wrists or arms?" Mr Walsh asked.

"No, I never have. I have hardly any hair on my hands or wrist at all," Hughes replied.